Coin-operated automatic ice cube and bag vending machines



Oct. 6, 1964 E. ZIMMERMANN 3,151,658

COIN-OPERATED AUTOMATIC ICE! cuss AND BAG VENDING MACHINES Filed June29, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 50w 2 IMHE/PMA/Y/Y WP ma Oct. 6, 1964E. ZIMMERMANN 3,151,668

COIN-OPERATED AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE AND BAG VENDING MACHINES Filed June 29,1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR foum Z/MmsenAmv Oct. 6, 1964 E.ZIMMERMANN 3,151,663

COIN-OPERATED AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE AND BAG VENDING MACHINES Filed June 29,1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. [Du/1v Z INMFMANN 84 ATI'OQIYEY Oct. 6,1964 E. ZIMMERMANN 3,151,668

COIN-OPERATED AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE AND BAG VENDING MACHINES Filed June 29,1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Pnfi .//V P I/ V7? INVENTOR. BY

E. ZIMMERMANN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. Haw/ v Z/MME M my/v57 Oct. 6,1964 COIN-OPERATED AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE AND BAG VENDING MACHINES 9 DJ 0III! mi 1 v a @W P s 5 n g Q. z

m 0.0 mN J 3,151,668 CON-Oi ERATED AUEGMATIC ICE CUBE AND BAG VENDINGMACHINES Edwin Zimmermann, Mineola, N.Y., assignor to North AmericanVending Manufacturing Corp, Floral Park,

N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 19 51, Ser. No. 126,73626 Claims. ({Il. 165-393) This invention relates to coin-operatedvending machines, and in particular to machines of this type designedfor dispensing predetermined quantities of ice cubes.

There are presently available on the market ice vending machines of avariety of different constructions adapted for selling ice in bulk, i.e.either in the form of a quantity of relatively small blocks commonlytermed ice cubes or in the form of a single large block of ice which maybe subsequently comrninuted by the purchaser. Basically, however, all ofthese machines have one cormnon characteristic, to wit, each block orvendible quantity of ice is prepackaged in a suitable container orWrapping prior to its being deposited in the machine from which it isultimately to be dispensed, and the several packages of ice in a givenmachine are generally arranged in separate compartment or conveyersections for individual delivery to the respective purchasers.

One major disadvantage of such systems is the fact that the machineseare not fully automatic and must be serviced almost every 24 or 48 hoursto replenish the supply of ice therein. This is a procedure whichrequires considerable expenditure of time, labor mono since not only isthe amount of Worn involved in servicing the said machines quite large,but special equipment is necessary, such as refrigerated trucks,apparatus for forming the quantities of ice, apparatus for packaging theformed ice, and apparatus for handling the packaged ice.

Another disadvantage of the known ice vending machines is that they areusually at least 8 feet in height, and frequently more. This is aconsequence of the fact that the machine cabinets must be large enoughto provide the interior space required for storing at least a reasonablylarge number of ice packages and for accommodating the conveyingmechanisms therefor. As a result, when a machine of such a known type isto be transferred from the factory to its intended location of use, itmust be shipped by special large trucks, which entails greater shippingcharges and thus further increases the cost of the machines to theultimate owners or operators thereof.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide an ice cube vending machine which is free of the disadvantagesand drawbacks of known machines designed for similar purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ice cubevending machine of novel construction which is substantially fullyautomatic and yet inexpensive to manufacture and install, and which,once installed, need not be furnished with ice from an exterior source.

A more specific object of the present invention thus is the provision ofsuch an automatic ice vending machine which is equipped with means forforming new batches of ice cubes as previously formed cubes aredispensed in response to the depositing of the required coins in theaccumulator coin mechanism of the machine by the purchasers of icecubes, and which is further equipped with means for storing the formedcubes, pending the dispensing thereof, without the possibility of thecubes coalescing.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an automaticice cube vending machine of the aforesaid type in which empty bags forthe ice cubes are provided and automatically dispensed one at a time tothe respective purchasers during each vending cycle and prior to thedispensing of the ice cubes, and in which the bags are United StatesPatent Fatented Get. 5, lfiri i ice specially constructed and arrangedto perform an operation-controlling function during each vending cycleand prior to being dispensed from the machine.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision, in suchan automatic ice cube vending machine, of means for preventing theinitiation of a vending cycle either if the supply of bags is exhausted,or if the ice cube storage bin is empty due to a failure of the ice cubefreezing mechanism to operate properly, and of means for indicating theexistence of such a condition.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, as Well as thecharacteristics of the preferred form of the machine conforming theretoand the advantages accruing from its use and operation, will be morefully comprehended from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an ice cube vending machineconstructed according to the present inventron;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration, in perspective, of a string ofthe ice cube-receiving bags which are dispensed one at a time by themachine of FIG. 1 during each vending cycle and which in addition arespecially constructed to perform a control function during each vendingcycle;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, in perspective, of such a bag as itappears when being filled with ice cubes from the delivery chute of themachine;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken, respectively, along the lines4-4 and 5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG. 1 andillustrates the ice cube and bag dispensing mechanisms of the machine infront elevation;

FIGS. 7, S and 9 are sectional views taken, respectively, along thelines 77, 8-8 and 9-9 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary and diagrammatic illustration of a bag as itapproaches its operation-controlling position during a vending cycle;and

FIG. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram for the vending machine of thepresent invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will beseen that the ice cube vending machine according to the presentinvention comprises a cabinet composed of an upper section 21 and alower section 22 rigidly secured to one another. At the front face ofthe upper section 21 is provided a panel 23 having a coinreceiving slot24, a push button 25 for initiating the ice dispensing part of theoverall vending cycle, and a coin return opening 26, the panel beingmounted for swinging movement to provide access to the accumulator coinmechanism A (see also FIG. 7) located behind it. The mechanism A ispreferably of a commercially available type manufactured and sold underthe designation Model No. 7200 by National Rejectors, Inc., of St.Louis, Missouri, in accordance with the disclosures of a number of US.patents such as Nos. 2,339,695, 2,934,190 and others, and its essentialcircuitry is shown in the broken-line rectangle at the right-hand sideof FIG. ll. Other than as needed for the description of the operation ofthe vend ng machine according to the present invention, however, nodetails of the accumulator coin mechanism A will be set forth herein.

The upper cabinet section 21 is further provided at its top edge with afluorescent light fixture 27 designed to furnish illumination duringnight hours and is covered by a removable top plate 28. At its front,the lower cabinet section 22 is provided with an opening or recess 29within the confines of which are disposed the outlet or dischargeportions of the ice and bag dispensing mech- 3 anisrns. in a manner tobe described more specifically hereinafter. I

As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the uppermost region of the uppercabinet section 21, the walls of which are suitably insulated, isdisposed an apparatus for forming the ice cubes C to be sold. Theapparatus 39 is preferably a commercially available ice cube makermanufactured and sold under the trademark Kold Draft by the Uniflow Mfg.Co., of Erie, Pa, in accordance with the disclosures of a number of U.S.patents such as Nos. 2,583,294, 2,645,095 and others. The ice cube maker30 is of a type in which the ice cubes are loosened from theirrespective freezing surfaces with the aid of heat which causes each cubeto have a film of water on its outer surface. Removal of this water ormelted ice as it accumulates is accomplished by means of a drain pipe 317 connected to the bottom of the ice cube maker 39. In order to preventcoalescence of the ice cubes, which would ocur if a freezing temperaturewere to be maintained about the ice cube maker, there is provided inaccordance with the present invention atspec'ial heater 32 (see FIG. 11)which is controlled by a thermostat 33. The heater and thermostat arepositioned in the upper region of the cabinet section 21, and thethermostat 33 is so set as to close the heater. circuit when the ambienttemperature about the ice cube maker drops to 40 F. and to open thecircuit when the said temperature rises to 50 F. Certain othercomponentstof the ice cube maker 30 are indicated diagrammatically in,and will be more fully referred to hereinafter in connection with thedescription of, and schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 11, but apart fromthat a more explicit description of the structural features of the saidice cube maker is not deemed necessary herein.

Positioned directly below the ice cube maker 30 and adapted to receivethe frozen ice cubes C therefrom is an open-topped combination storagebin and dispensing hopper 34 having a front wall 34a, a rear wall 34b,and side walls 34c and 34d. Preferably, the major portion of the bin 34is of uniform cross-sectional size, but in its lowermost portion thewalls 34a to 34d converge to define a funnel structure terminating in arectangular opening 342. The interior of the bin 34 communicates via theopening 34c with an elongated, laterally closed trough 35 disposed onthe bottom Wall 21a of the upper cabinet secwardly slanted chute 38terminating in a vertically downwardly depending outlet or dischargesection33a disposed within the confines of the front recess 29 of thelower cabinet section 22 (see FIG. 1). For a purpose which will becomeclearer as the description proceeds, thereare provided on the outerfaces of the side walls of the ver: tical chute section 33a a pair ofhooks 39 (see also FIG. 3).

Also: mounted on the floor 21a of the upper cabinet 7 section 21 isan.electric' motor 40 which has an output shaft 41 carrying a sprocketwheel 42. A sprocket chain 43 drivingly connects the sprocket 42'with asprocket 44 carried by the axie136a of the screw conveyer 36, and with asprocket 45 carried by a cross shaft 46 extending through the lowerfunnel-like portion of the M1134 and. journaled at its opposite endsinbearings 47 supported by the front'and rear walls of the cabinet section21. The shaft 46 further carries another sprocket 43 which is connectedby a chain 49 with a sprocket 5% carried by a second cross shaft 51journaled at its opposite ends in bearin s .52 supported by the frontandfrear walls' -Sa and 34b of the'bin 34 at the exterior faces of thelatter.

7 Thetwo cross shafts 46'and51 are provided with re;

spective sets of circumferentially staggered, radially extendingcube-agitating fingers 46a and 51a, the fingers of each set being spacedfrom one another longitudinally of the respective shafts. Anypossibility of the cubes C coalescing while stationary in the bin 3 iseffectively prevented by the provision of a heater 53 (see FIG. 11)which is controlled by a thermostat 54. This heater and thermostat arepositioned in the region of the bin, and

the thermostat is so set as to close the heater circuit when the ambientbin. temperature falls to 35 F. and to open the circuit when the saidtemperature rises to 36 F. Accumulated melted ice may be removed bymeans of a suitable drain pipe (not shown).

The bin 34 is also provided with means (not shown) for sensing thequantity of cubes in the bin, this sensing.

means being operable to close a normally open switch 55 (see FIG. 11)when the supply of cubes is exhausted in the event that the ice maker 30hasfailed to function properly. To prevent ice cubes from being crushedbetween the discharge side edge of the opening Me and the screw conveyer36, there is provided at the lowermost edge of the slanted part of thebin wall 34:: an arcuate cabinet section 21 is preferably. provided withan opening 21d which is normally covered by a removable panel or closureplate 56 and provides access to the interior of the cabinet forinspection, repairs, etc.

As previously mentioned, the vending machine according to the presentinvention also provides and dispenses the bags for receiving the icecubes being dispensed through the chute 38. Referring'first to FIGS. 2to 5, the bags 57, preferably made of polyethylene or a like flexiblesynthetic plastic material, are initially connected to one another inend to end relationship so as to form a long string adapted to be woundinto a roll, With the closed, preferably heat-sealed end 57a of each bagbeing attached along a perforated edge 57b to the open or top end of thenext bag. The entire string of bags 57 may thus conveniently be formedby extruding a long tube of V polyethylene, flattening the same out (seeFIG. '4) to provide opposite side panels 57c and intermediatedoublefolded edge pleats 57d, contacting the so flattened tube with aheat sealing tool at a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations toform the seals 57a, and then transversely perforating the now sectionedflat'tube in any suitable manner adjacent the heat seals 57a to form the7b. Concurrently, a hole 57s is punched into each bag 57 adjacent theperforations 57b thereof so that there is such a hole in each of theside panels 57c.

I These holes 57e, as will presently becomeclear, serve a dual function,being adapted not only to provide means for gripping and holding'thebags both during and after, the filling thereof, but also to. providemeans by which a certain control over the operation of the machineduring each vending cycle can be exercised. 7

Turning now to FIGS. 6 to 10,-t he means 58for holding the supply ofbags 57 and for dispensing the same from the vending machine are locatedin the lowercabinet section 22. As there illustrated, the bag supply anddispensing mechanism 58 comprises a framework 59 which includes verticalside members 60 and '61 spaced from one another transversely ofthemachine'and rigidly connected by a cross member 62; Rotatablyarranged in superposed relationbetween the frame members "60 and 61- atthe front of the cabinet section 22 are two rubber rollers 63 and 64-the purpose of which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The trunnion or shaft'63'a of the lower'roller 63 at oneiend of thelatter is journaled inia; bearing 65 mounted on the frame member 60. Anextension of this shaft projects from the bearing through the framemember 69 and carries a spur gear 66, While the other end of the lowerroller 63 is provided with a sleeve bushing 67 which receives and islocked by means of a set screw 68 to the output shaft 69 of an electricmotor 70 fixedly mounted on the frame member 61.

The upper roller 64 is rotatably supported at its opposite ends by apair of spaced, parallel lever arms 71 and 72 at one end of the latter,these arms being in turn independently rotatably supported at theirother ends by a cross bar 73 stationarily extending between and securedto the frame members 69 and 61. At that one of its ends supported by thearm 71, the roller 64 has a shaft or trunnion 64a which extends througha relatively wide clearance hole 69a in the frame member 60 and carriesat its outermost end a spur gear which meshes with the gear 66 carriedby the shaft of the roller 63. It will thus be apparent that to alimited extent the upper roller 64- may be shifted up or down relativeto the lower roller at one or the other of its ends only or at bothends. The purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that regardless ofthe location of the lower roller 63 when install d, i.e. regardless ofwhether the roller 63 is truly horizontal or not, the upper roller maybe brought into precise parallelism with the lower roller to achieve afull rolling contact therebetween over the entire lengths thereof. Theupper roller may be secured, i.e. prevented from moving upwardly, in anyadjusted position thereof by means of two adjusting screws 75 (see FIG.6) which are mounted in a pair of brackets 76 ailixed to the framemembers 60 and 61, respectively, and bear against the upper edges of thearms 71 and 72.

Positioned behind the rollers 63 and 54 is a bag guide and back-upstructure consisting of a pair of coplanar horizontal plates 77 whichare spaced from one another at their adjacent edges and are supported attheir remote edges by a pair of vertical plates 78. Behind the saidguide and back-up structure there is disposed a further rubber roller'79 which is journaled in the frame members 60 and 61 and extendsparallel to the rollers 63 and as. The arrangement is such that theplane of the top faces of the guide plates 77 is substantially tangentto the idler roller 79 at the uppermost point of the latters peripheryand to the cross bar 73 at the lowermost point of the periphery thereof.The purpose and advantages of this arrangement will become clear as thedescription proceeds.

Fixedly mounted on the inside surfaces of the side frame members 6i) and61, respectively, are two horizontmly aligned bearing blocks 8% havingupwardly open semicircular recesses which are adapted to receive thetrunnions 81 projecting from the opposite ends of the shaft 82 of anelongated roller or core barrel 83 on which the string of bags 57 iswound. As diagrammatically indicated in FIG, 1, the front wall of thelower cabinet section 22 is provided with a door or removable panel 29aat the rear of the recess 29 so as to provide access to the interior ofthe cabinet for the purpose of removing an empty core barrel andreplacing the same with a full one.

The mechanism 58 further includes a cross shaft 84 which is disposedjust behind the cross bar 73 and is rotatably journaled at its oppositeends in the firame members 6i and 61. At a point substantially centrallyof the framework 59 the shaft carries a feeler arm 85 which overlies thegap between the adjacent edges of the horizontal guide and back-upplates 77. The cross shaft 84 projects out of the confines of theframework 59 at one side thereof (see FIG. 9) and is there connected inany suitable manner to one end of a tension spring 86 the other end ofwhich is anchored to the outer surface of the frame member 61 at 86a,the spring 86 biasing the shaft 84 in such a direction as to tend tomove the feeler arm 35 downwardly into the gap between the plates 77. Itwill be understood that in lieu of two plates the backup means may be aunitary structure provided with an interior or medial space or aperturepositioned to register with the bag holes 57:: and large enough topermit the feeler arm to project thereinto. At its outermost end region,the shaft as further carries two mercury switches 87 and 88 which areelectrically connected with a number of elements, including a relay 89mounted on the frame member 61 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), in a manner to bemore fully explained hereinafter in connection with the description ofthe circuit diagram of FIG. 11.

In addition to the foregoing, there is rotatably journaled in theframework 59 a cross shaft 90 which is positioned at the top of theframework and extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the roll ofbags 57 when the same is mounted in the bearing brackets 8t) (see FIG.8). The shaft 9% carries an elongated feeler member or arm 91 whichrests on the outermost periphery of the roll of bags and thus followsthe decreasing contour of the roll as the bags are dispensed from themachine. One end of the shaft t) projects out of the framework 59through the frame member 61 and carries an actuator arm 92 (see FIG. 7)which is adapted to contact and close a normally open switch 93 (seealso FIG. 11) when the roll of bags is used up, i.e. when the followerarm 91 reaches the core barrel 83.

As clearly shown in PEG. 8, in use the leading end of the string of bags57 is passed from the roll rearwardly of the machine under the cross bar84, over the horizontal plates 77 and around the idler roller 79, andthen back frontwardly of the machine under the plates 77, i.e. betweenthe vertical plates 78, and between the rollers 63 and 64 until theleading edge of the first bag is disposed just inside the bag dispensingslot 58' at the front of the lower cabinet section 22 but stillinaccessible from the outside. The arrangement of the various elementsis such that at this time the tip of the feeler arm 85 is located justbehind one of the holes 572, between the latter and the following seal dedge 57a of the same bag 57. Consequently, when the motor 79 is started,it will rotate the lower roller 63 and therethrough the upper roller 64so as to feed the first bag out of the machine through the slot 58'.While this feeding operation is taking place, the feeler arm 85 ridesalong the upper surface of that part of the string of bags then passingover the plates 77. The latter thus serve the function of preventing thesaid arm from pushing the bag contacted thereby downwardly andaccordingly prevent the shaft 34 from being rotated until the next hole57e reaches the arm 85 and permits the same to drop. In addition, therelative positioning of the coplanar upper surfaces of the back-upplates 77 with respect to the peripheries of the bar 73 and roller 79ensures that the arm 85 remains in its proper neutral positionpreparatory to its dropping through a hole 572.

The ice cube vending machine according to the present invention isfurther provided with an electrical control circuit 94 which includessome of the elements already mentioned hereinbefore and which is shownin FIG. ii. For the purpose of the following description, some of theelements shown in FIG. 11 which do not have any critical bearing on theoperativeness of the invention will not be specifically identified.

More particularly, the accumulator coin mechanism A comprises aneight-terminal connector arrangement 95 by means of which its componentsare connected to the main control circuit 94. As shown in PEG. 11, thecircuit 94 comprises a neutral line 96 and two power lines 97 and 98which are, for example, at a potential of volts relative to the neutralline and thus at a potential of 230 volts relative to one another.Connected directly across the lines 9:: and 97 are an outlet or socket99, a timer motor 103, the fluorescent light 27 and a series-connectedswitch Hi1 which is mechanically linked with the motor 1%, a bag-vendrelay 192 and a series-connected switch 1&5 which is normally open, theice maker heater 32 and its thermostat 33, and the bin heater 53 and itsthermo- '2' stat 54. The. function of the socket 99 is to permit aheating device (not shown) to be connected to the circuit for thepurpose of warming the water lines for the ice maker of the machine inregions of cold climate or during prolonged periods of low'temperatures,while the.

motor 109 is so set as to close the switch 101 at a predetermined timeevery night for energizing the light 27 and to open'the switch at apredetermined time every morning for turning the light 27 E.

The relay 192 is a four-pole, double-throw relay which has three, pairsof active contacts 102a, 102b and 102a (the inactive'pair is not shown).Of these, the first two are normally open, while the contacts of thethird pair are normally closed, and the movable contact members arecorrespondingly ganged together. The open pair of contacts 192a and theclosed pair. of contacts 1020 are connected in series with one anotherbetween the coil of the relay 102 and a line 1134 which connects theterminal of the connector arrangement to the 6 terminal thereof, theline 1194 having incorporated therein one normally open pair of contacts165a and one normally closed pair of contacts 1155b of a relay which isconnected in series with the parallel-connected bin and bag emptyswitches 55 and 93 between the neutral line 96 and the junction of theline 194 with the closed pair of contacts 1020 The second normally openpair of contacts 19215 of the relay 1t32is incorporated .in a line 106which connects the power line 97 to the 8 terminal of the connectorarrangement 95. The common point of the contacts 102a and 1132c isconnected via a switch 107 to the power line 97 and to the terminal ofthe connector arrangement 95. The switch 107 is a vend-time controlswitch which is normally closed and is mechanically connected with avend-timer motor 108 connected between the neutral line 96 and the 7terminal of the connector arrangement 95, the motor 108 being equippedwith suitable actuator or cam means (not shown) adapted to open theswitch 107 at the end of a complete vending cycle. A vending cyclecounter 199 of any suitable construction is connected in parallel withthe motor 163.

Also connected in parallel with the timer motor 168 is a' relay 110 forthe ice dispensing part of the vending cycle. The relay 110 has anormally open pair of contacts 110a connected in series with the icecube delivery motor 40 between the neutral line 96 and the second powerline 93, and a second normally open pair of bold. ing contacts 11%connected between the line 11 1, extending from the common point of themercury switches '87 and 38 and the relay contacts 8%, 59b and 1192a tothe 3" terminal, and the line 193' which connects the common point ofthe motor 198, counter 109 and relay 1119 to the 7 terminal of theconnector'arrangement 95. This terminal is in turn connected to a switch111 which is normally open and is adapted to be closed when the'ice-vend push button 25 (see FIG. 1) is depressed. The

switch 111 is connected to one terminal of a double-pole double-throwswitch 112 which is the stepper vend switch of the accumulator coinmechanism A and has its second 3 terminal 101 the connectorarrangement95 and thus 7 to the line 11 and therethrough to the relays89 and 102. The mechanism A further includes a plurality of coinswitches 115 for nickels, dimes and quarters, a stepping motor 116, astepping switch 117, and other switches and associated circuitryincluding solenoids and electromag- V nets for controlling such actionsas coin return, re-

jection of slugs, and the like in a manner well known and requiring nodetailed, explanation herein. Inaddition, there is provided a heater 118connected" between the 11' and 2 terminals ofthe connector arrangement95 to 'preve nt formation and accinnulation of moisture on theparts, ofthe mechanism Awhich might lead to re-t.

jection of inserted coins, and an empty indicator lamp 119 (see also 11G. 1) connected between the 2 and 5 terminals. 7 t

.The icecube maker 30, illustrated only diagrammatically atthejlert-hand side of FIG. 11, includes an actuator motor 121) andassociated circuitry, a water valve 121, a hot gas valve 122, a waterpump 123, and a number of other elements not necessary to describe indetail. The ice maker circuit is connected between the neutral line 96(which is the same as the 2 terminal of the connector arrangement 95)and the second power line 98. The latter has incorporated therein anormally open pair of contacts 124:: of a relay 124 which is connecteddirectly between the line 98 and a branch 97' of the line 97 and isadapted to be energised upon closing of a switch 125 in the branch line97'. The switch 125 is associated with the ice cube storage bin 34 insuch a manner that it is open as long as the bin contains at least ormore than a predetermined minimum supply of ice cubes, and closedwhenever the supply of cubes fmls below the set minimum value. cuit 126of the refrigeration system of the ice cube maker 3i which circuitincludes a compressor 127, a pair of condenser fan motors 128, and a fanmotor control switch 129 which closes when the pressure in the systemrises to more than a set value.

The adaptability of thernachine'to different power supply conditions isgreatly enhanced by the provision of a booster transformer 131? inparallel with the compressor 127, i.e. between the line 93 and thebranch line 97'.'

As indicated by the broken line 1.31, the compressor may be connected tothe tap of the transformer 130. With the aid of these alternativearrangements, therefore, if the potential across the lines 97-98 is afull 230 volts, then the compressor 127, which works only with an inputof 230 volts, may be connected to the branch line 97 as shown in solidlines, while if the power supply yields only a lesser potential, say 208volts, then the compressor may be connected to the tap 131 of thetransformer 139 the output of which is the desired 230 volts, theconnection 127' between the branch line 97' and the compressor at suchtime being eliminated.

It will be understood that when a machine as so far described has beenshipped to its destination and intended location of use, it is merelynecessary to connect the water conduits or" the ice cube maker 39 to awater supply pipe coming from a source offresh water, and to connect thepower input terminals of the control circuit 94 to a suitable source ofelectrical potential. Once this has been done, the machine requires nofurther supervision or servicing as far as its ice making system isconcerned ex- 'cept in cases of mechanical failure or breakdown. Pe-

riodically, of course, the supply of bags 57 will be exhausted, butsince each roll of bags will consist of anywhere from about 350 to'500'bags it is evident that the 7 required frequency of bagreplacementwill be very small.

Thus, overall maintenance costs for the machines embodying theprinciples of the present invention may be accommodate fixed quantitiesof ice in bulky packages kept at an absolute minimum, which increasesthe operationalprofits to be derived from such machinesand accordinglyrenders them highly desirable from an economic standpoint. 1 7

Still another economic'advantage results from the fact that the icevending machines according to the presentinvention, having no need forrelatively huge interiors to not capable of being replenishedautomatically, may be made with cabinets the heights of'which (includingthe thickness or" the cover or topplzitegZd), are never in ex-; cess ofabout 71/2, feet and which thus are much smaller than the heretoforeknown ice vending machine cabinets.

Consequently, machines according to the present invention may be shippedfrom the factory to their destinations in standard size commercialtrucks at far less cost'than is en 1 i In addition, the switch 125controls the cir-.

9 tailed in shipping the known machines by extra large special trucksrequired therefor.

The operation of the ice cube vending machine according to the presentinvention will be most clearly comprehended from the followingdescription of one complete vending cycle. in this description,reference will at times be made to elements of the coin mechanism Awhich are not, or best only schematically, disclosed in the drawings butwhich are fully disclosed in the patents of National Rejectors, Inc,incorporated herein by reference.

As a starting point, it is assumed that the storage bin 34 is full, sothat the switches and 125 are open. The relay 124 is thus deenergizedand its contacts 124;: are open to render the ice cube maker 3%inoperative. It is also assumed that the bag dispensing mechanism 58contains a full supply of bags 7, so that the respective switch 93 isalso open. As a result, the relay 1?:7 is deenergized and its contacts159a and 1651; are in the condition shown in FIG. ll.

When enough coins totaling the price of a load of cubes are dropped intothe slot 24 in the accumulator coin mechanism panel 23, the 25 switch115 is shifted from its illustrated position to energize the steppingmotor 116 which in turn and through the intermediary of the steppingswitch 117 and the stepper electromagnet 117a actuates the stepper vendswitch 112 into its second position through the intermediary of aratchet wheel (not shown). This completes a circuit from the power line97 through the 1 terminal of the connector arrangement 95, the switch112, the 3 terminal, and the line 114 to the relay 102 to energize thelatter. At the same time, the bag dispenser motor 7i is actuated throughthe same circuit plus the relay contacts $912 and starts to feed thefirst bag 57 out through the slot 58', as previously described, whichmoves that part of the string of bags engaged by the arm 85 in thedirection of the arr w B in FIG. 10. As soon as a hole 57e reaches thearm 85, the latter drops therethrough -masmuch as the spring as is nowable to rotate the shaft 84, this action being efiective to close themercury switches 87 and 88. When switch 87 is closed, it connects therelay $9 to the line 114 and thus to the power line 97. With this relayenergized, the normally open contacts 89:: are closed, while thenormally closed contacts 8% are opened. The contacts 89a thus are seento act as holding contacts for the relay S9 to continue the energizationthereof. During this time, of course, the motor 79 keeps running,despite the fact that the relay contacts 8% are open, by virtue of themercury switch 88 being closed. The bag feeding operation thus continuesuntil the feeler arm 85 rides up out of the hole 57:: and back onto theflat surface of the string of bags, which again opens the mercuryswitches and stops the motor 743 so that just one bag is accessible fromthe front of the machine and can be torn off. When this has been done,the customer, using the holes 57c in the side panels 570 of thedispensed bag, hangs the bag on the hooks 39 of the delivery chute 3-33a(see FIG. 3) preparatory to initiating the ice dispensing part of thevending cycle.

Reverting now to the relay 1&2, it will be recalled that the latter wasenergized by the shifting of the vend switch 112 out of its illustratedposition. When the relay 102 is so energized, the contacts H925; and1%!) thereof close and the contacts ltlZc open. As a result, twocircuits are completed. The closing of the contacts 192a completes acircuit from the power line 97 through switch 107 and the relay coil102. to keep the latter energized, the contacts 102a thus acting asholding contacts. At the same time, the closing of the contacts 192.5closes a circuit from the line 97 and through the line 1%, the 8terminal of the connector arangement 95, the stepper reset electromagnet113a and the 2 terminal to the neutral line 96. The magnet 113a when soenergized operates to return the stepper vend switch 112 to itsillustrated 1% position. The machine is now ready for the ice dispensingpart of the vending cycle.

With the bag 57 hanging from the hooks 39, when the push button 25 isdepressed, the switch 111 is closed. This completes the power circuitfor both the vend-timer motor 1% and the ice-vend relay 114 from line 97through switch 197, the closed contacts 1li2a, line 114, the 3 terminal,switch 112, switch 111 and the 7 terminal. When the relay 111'? isenergized, its contacts 119a and 11% close. Closing of the contacts 119acauses the ice dispensing motor ill to be actuated so as to rotate thescrew conveyor 36 for feeding ice cubes from the storage bin 34 into thechute 33 from which they fall directly into the bag 57 hung at theoutlet end of the chute. At the same time, of course, the agitatorshafts 45 and 51 are rotated to ensure that the cubes C in the bin arefully separated before they reach the conveyor trough 35 and the screw36. Closing of the second pair of contacts 11% ensures that even thoughthe switch 111 is opened as soon as the button 25 is released, the relay11!) remains energized since a power circuit therefor is now completedbetween the lines 96 and 97 via the lines 168' and 114, the still closedcontacts 1l32a, and the switch 107.

Concurrently with the foregoing, the vend-timer motor 168 is runninAfter a predetermined time interval, therefore, fixed by the nature ofthe cam associated with the timer motor 198 in accordance with theoperating speed of the ice dispensing motor 4t and the feeding capacityof the screw conveyer as, the said cam becomes effective to open theswitch 167. When this occurs, the power circuits for holding the relays89, 1'92 and 119 energized are broken. As a consequence, the contacts89a, 192a, 1921), 11th: and 11% open and the contacts 8% and 1620 close,thereby terminating the entire vending cycle, but since the switch 197only remains open mo mentarily, as soon as it is closed again the entirecircuit, and thus the machine, is immediately ready for another vendingcycle. The customer can now lift the filled bag 57 of the hooks 39 anduse the holes 5% as handle holes in carrying the bag away from themachine.

Should either the supply of bags 57 or the supply of ice cubes C in thebin become completely exhausted, either the switch 3 or the switch 55will be closed. This completes a power circuit for the relay from theneutral line 9e, through the normally closed contacts 1ll2c of the relay1%2 and the normally closed timer switch 197 to the power line 97. Whenthe relay 1%5 is so energized, the normally open contacts 1%:1 thereofclose, while the normally closed contacts 1951: open. This establishes apower circuit from line 97 to line 96 through switch 1%7, contacts 1020,contacts 1435a, line 194, the 5 terminal of the connector arrangement95, the indicator lamp 119, and the 2 terminal, whereby the lamp lightsup to indicate an empty condition. At the same time, the coin acceptancecircuit is conditioned, due to the opening of the contacts 1051) andother factors not necessary to describe in detail herein, to preventactuation of the stepper vend motor 116. No Vending cycle ashereinbefore described can, therefore, ensue until the switches 55 and93 are both open again and the relay contacts lllda and 1&5!) return totheir illustrated positions upon deenergization of the relay 165.

During the operation of the machine, whenever the supply of cubes in theb n falls below a predetermined minimum (without being completelyexhausted), the switch closes to energize the relay 124 and to actuatethe refri eration system 125 of the ice cube maker 35 When the contacts124a close, therefore, the ice maker is set into operation to form moreice cubes to replenish the supply in the bin. As soon as a build-up ofthe desired reserve of ice cubes in the bin has been achieved, theswitch 125 opens again and the relay 124 is deenergized to interrupt theoperation of ice maker 3 Vtnile there has been described herein apreferred r bodiment of the present invention, it is to beunderstood'that the description is for purposes of illustration only andthat many changes or modifications and refinements maybe made in thestructures and structural relationships disclosed Withoutany departurefrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined, in the appendedclaims. Merely by way of example, the fiuorescent light 27 may beincorporated in the top or cover plate 23 for the cabinet. Also, aninsulated door (not shown) may be provided at the front of the lowercabinet sec don 22 to overlie the recess 29 when the machine is idle, soas to prevent loss of cold from the inside and 'to keep the dischargeelements 38c'and 53' of the ice and bag dispensing means clean andsanitary. Still other variations will readily suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art.

Having thus particularly described my invention, what I clm'm anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

L'An automatic, coin-operated ice cube vending machine, comprising acoin-receiving mechanism, a supply of ice cube-receiving bags in theform of a long string of end to end detachably connected bags, means forfeeding said string of bags from the location of said supply thereofalong a predetermined path toward a dispensing location, means forsensing the passage of unit bag-length portions of said strin of bagspast a predetermined point or" said pa h, meansresponsive to the 7operation of said sensing means for interrupting the operation of saidfeeding means whenevera single bag has been fed to said dispensinglocation, whereby said bags are dispensed one at a time, means forfreezing water into a supply of ice cubes, means for dispensing icecubes from the supply thereof into a dispensed ice cubereceiving bagheld in open condition, and control means operatively connected withsaid coin-receiving mechanism, said feeding means, said responsivemeans, said freezing means, and said ice cube dispensing means forensuring proper operation thereof during each vending cycle after theinitiation of the cycle by the introduction of suiiicient coins 'intosaid coin-receiving mechanism.

2. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 1, saidfeeding means comprising a pair of feed rollers in rolling surfacecontact with one another and adapted to have said string of bags passtherebetween, and drive means operatively connected with said rollersfor rotating the same.

3. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 1, saidsensing means comprising a feeler member mounted for rocking movementabout an axis oriented substantially transversely to said path ofmovement of said string of bags, and means for continuously urging saidfeeler member against a surface of the passing string of bags, each ofsaid bags being provided at a point along the line of contact betwwnsaid feeler member and said string of bags with a hole large enough topermit said feeler member to pass therethrough when coming intoregistry'therewith during movement of said string of bags undertheaction of said feeding means, said responsive means being operable'toeffect the inter- 5&8

l2 of said string of bags with the adjacent surface of said plate means,said plate means being provided within the confines thereof with anaperture positioned for registry V with successive ones of said holes insaid bags as said string of bags moves over said plate means, saidfeeler member being arranged opposite and in registry with saidaperture, whereby any transverse displacement of said string of bagsunder the force of said feeler member is prevented at all times, whileany rocking movement of said feeler member about its axis is preventedat all times except when one of said holes comes into registry with saidaperture and said fceler member. V 6. Anautomatic ice cube vendingmachine according to claim 3, further comprising a of. coplanar, spacedback-up plates disposed along said path of movement of said string ofbags toward said feed rollers in position for sliding contact of saidstring of bags with the adjacent surfaces of said plates, said feelermember being arranged opposite the gap between said plates, whereby thelatter prevent any transverse displacement of said string of bags underthe force of said feeler memher at all times and thus prevent saidfeeler member from rocking about its axis at all times except when oneof said holes comes into registry therewith.

7. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 1, said icecube dispensing means comprising a bin for containing said supply of icecubes, a delivery chute for transferring said ice cubes to said openbag, said bin being provided with a discharge opening in its bottom, atrough having one end region thereof disposed beneath said dischargeopening and communicating at its other end region with said deliverychute, a rotary screw conveyor arranged in said trough, a plurality ofrotary shafts extending across the interior of said bin at spacedlocations, each of said shafts being provided with a plurality ofradially extending ringers, motor means, and transmission meansoperatively interconnecting said motor means with said rotary screwconveyor and said shafts, whereby during the feeding operation of saidscrew conveyer said shafts are rotated to cause said fingers to agitateand separatethe ice cubes still in said bin.

8(An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 7, saidshafts being arranged at different elevations within said bin, and saidfingers on each shaft being circumferentially staggered about and'spacedfrom one another longitudinally of the same.

9. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 7, furthercomprising first means for sensing whether the supply of ice cubes insaid bin is more or less than a predetermined minimum. quantity, secondmeans for sensing the complete exhaustion of said 'ice cubes from saidbin, means responsive to said first sensing means and constituting apart of said control means and operable when said supply of ice cubesdrops to less than said minimum quantity to effect actuation of saidfreezing means for replenishing thesupply of ice cubes 7 in said bin tomore than said minimum quantity, and

ruption of the operation of said feeding means when said feeler memberrides up out of a hole and back onto said surface of said'string of bagsupon continued move! ment of said strings of bags. 1

'4. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 3, said icecube. dispensing means comprising a delivery chute having a terminalmouth through which ice cubes are adapted to leave the machine, and atleast one hook extending laterally from saiddelivery chute Qadjacentsaidmouth thereof, said hook being adapted to enter said hole in a dispensedbag which has been detached from said string of bags to support said bagin position for receivingthe dispensed ice cubes.

5. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to clairn 3, furthercomprising back-up plate means disposed along said path or" movement ofsaid string of bags toward said feeding means in position for slidingcontact means responsive to said second sensing means and constituting apart or" said control means and operable when the supply of ice cubes insaid bin is exhausted, without being replenishedby said freezing means,to deactivate said control means and inhibit initiation of any vendingcycle.

10. An automatic, coin-operated ice cube vending machine, comprising anice cube freezing device, .a storage bin for receiving ice cubes fromsaid freezing device, a delivery chute, a screw conveyor for feeding icecubes from said bin to said delivery'chute, means for preventingcoalescence of said cubes while in said bin, a first electric motoroperatively connected to said screw conveyor for rotating the same, along string of end to ,end detachx ably connected ice cube-receivingbags, a pair of feed rollers adapted to have said'string of bags passtherebetween, a second electric motor ,operatively connected to to abag-dispensing location, each of said bags being provided with a hole atthat one of its ends ultimately to be the open or top end, a rotatablecross shaft, a feeler arm carried by said cross shaft, spring meansconnected to said cross shaft and biasing the same so as to keep saidfeeler arm pressed against said bags as the latter pass thereby, saidarm being adapted to pass through each of said holes as the same reachit to permit said cross shaft to be rocked accordingly, normally openswitch means arranged to be closed when said cross shaft is so rocked, acoin-receiving mechanism, means responsive to reduction of the reservequantity of ice cubes in said bin for actuating said ice cube freezingdevice to produce additional ice cubes so as to replenish the supply ofcubes in said bin to more than a predetermined miriimum quantity, anelectrical control circuit operatively connected with said electricmotors, said switch means, the circuitry of said coin-receivingmechanism and said ice cube freezing device, and said responsive meansfor ensuring proper actuation and operation of the machine during eachvending cycle when initiated by the introduction of sufficient coinsinto said coin-receiving mechanism, and time control means incorporatedin said control circuit for deactivating the same and therebyterminating each vending cycle at a predetermined time interval afterthe initiation thereof.

11. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to claim 10, furthercomprising first and second electric heating means positioned in theregions of said ice cube freezing device and said bin, respectively, andfirst and second thermostatic switches incorporated in said controlcircuit and controlling said first and second heating means,respectively, to provide and maintain ambient temperatures slightlyabove freezing at said device and said bin for preventing coalescence ofsaid ice cubes.

12. An automatic ice cube vending machine according to. claim 11, saidfirst thermostatic switch being set to close the circuit for said firstheating means at a temperature of about 40 F. and to open the circuit ata temperature of about 50 F., and said second thermostatic switch beingset to close the circuit for said second heating means at a temperatureof about 35 F. and to open the circuit at a temperature of about 36 F.

13. An automatic, coin-operated ice cube vending machine, comprising acabinet, an ice cube freezing device located in said cabinet adjacentthe top thereof, a storage bin disposed below said device for receivingice cubes therefrom, said storage bin having a bottom discharge opening,a delivery chute arranged in said cabinet below said bin and slanteddownwardly therefrom toward the front of said cabinet, said chuteterminating exteriorly of said cabinet and being provided at itsdischarge end with a pair of hooks, a screw conveyer positioned toreceive ice cubes from said bin through said bottom opening thereof andadapted to feed the cubes into the intake end of said delivery chute, aplurality of multi-fingered agitator shafts extending through and acrosssaid bin, a first electric motor operatively connected to said screwconveyer and said agitator shafts for rotating the same, a roll of along string of end to end detachably connected ice cubereceiving bagsrotatably mounted in said cabinet, said cabinet being provided at thefront thereof with a bag discharge slot, a pair of feed rollersrotatably arranged in said cabinet adjacent said slot and adapted tohave said string of bags pass therebetween, a second electric motoroperatively connected to said feed rollers to drive the same for feedingsaid bags through said slot, each of said bags being provided with ahole at that one of its ends ultimately to be the open or top end,whereby each bag may be hung from said hooks in an ice cubereceivingposition, a rotatable cross shaft extending transversely to the path ofmovement of said string of bags from said roll to said rollers, a feelerarm carried by said cross sdaft, spring means connected to said crossshaft and biasing the same so as to keep said feeler arm pressed againstsaid bags as the latter pass thereby, said arm being adapted to passthrough each of said holes as the same reach it to permit said crossshaft to be roclaed accordingly, a pair of normally open mercuryswitches carried by said cross shaft and adapted to be closed when saidcross shaft is rocked upon said feeler arm passing through said holes insaid bags, 21 coin-receiving mechanism mounted at the front of saidcabinet, first and second means responsive, respectively, to exhaustionof the supply of ice cubes in sm'd bin and exhaustion of the supply ofbags on said roll and adapted to render the entire machine inoperativeand prevent initiation of a vending cycle whenever said bin and roll areempty, third means responsive to a falling of the amount of ice cubes insaid bin below a predetermined minimum quantity for actuating said icecube freezing device to produce additional ice cubes so as to replenishthe supply of cubes in said bin to more than said predetermined minimumquantity, an electrical control circuit operatively connected with saidelectric motors, said mercury switches, the circuitry of saidcoin-receiving mechanism and said ice cube freezing device, and saidfirst, second and third repsonsive means for ensuring proper actuationand operation of the machine during each vending cycle when initiated bythe introduction of suflicient coins into said coin-receiving mechanism,and time control means incorporated said control circuit fordeactivating the same and thereby terminating each vending cycle at apredetermined time interval after the beginning of the operation or saidfirst electric motor.

14. A mechanism for dispensing articlereceiving bags one at a time froma long string of such bags detachably connected to one another in end toend relationship, comprising a pair of feed rollers in rolling surfacecontact with one another and adapted to have said string of bags passtherebetween, drive means operatively connected with said rollers forrotating the same to feed said string of bags toward a dispensinglocation, control means operatively connected with said drive means,means for sensing the passage of unit bag-length portions of said stringof bags past a predetermined point along the path of movement of saidstring of bags under the action of said feed rollers, and meansresponsive to the operation of said sensing means and constituting apart of said control means for interrupting the operation of said drivemeans whenever a single bag has been advanced by said feed rollers tosaid dispensing location.

15. A bag dispensing mechanism according to claim 14, each of said bagsbeing provided, at a region thereof adjacent that one of its ends whichwill be the open top end of the bag when the same is separated from saidstring 0 bags, with a hole, said sensing means being arranged to beinactive whenever in registry with the imperforate portions or" saidstring of bags and to operate Jhenever registry is effected between saidsensing means and one of said holes, and said responsive means beingoperable to effect the interruption of the operation of said drive meanswhen the registry between said sensing means and a hole is terminatedupon continued movement of said string of bags past said sensing means.

16. A bag dispensing mechanism according to claim 14, said sensing meanscomprising a feeler member mounted for rocking movement, and means forcontinuously urging said feeler member against a surface of the passingstring of bags, each of said bags being provided at a point along theline of contact betv een said feeler memher and said string of bags witha hole large enough to permit said feeler member to pass therethroughwhen coming into registry therewith during movement of said s ring ofbags under the action of sad feed rollers, said responsive means beingoperable to effect the interruption of the operation of said drive meanswhen said oneness l feeler member rides up out of a hole and back ontosaid surface of said string of bags upon continued movement of saidstring of bags past said memberv 17. A bag dispensing mechanismaccording to claim 16, further comprising back-up plate means disposedalong said path of movement of said string of bags toward said feedrollers in position for sliding contact of said string of bags With theadjacent surface of said plate means, said plate means being providedwithin the confines thereof with an aperture positioned for registrywith successive ones of said holes in said bags as said string of bagsmoves over said plate means, said feeler member being arranged oppositeand in registry with said aperture, whereby any transverse displacementof said string of bags under the force of said feeler member isprevented at all times, while any rocking movement of said feeler memberabout its axis is prevented at all times except when one of said holescomes into registry with said aperture and said feeler member.

18. A bag dispensing mechanism according to claim 16, further comprisinga pair of coplanar, spaced back-up plates disposed along said path ofmovement of said string of bags toward said feed rollers in position forsliding contact of said string of bags with the adjacent surfaces ofsaid plates, said feeler member being arranged opposite the gap betweensaid plates, whereby the latter prevent any transverse displacement ofsaid string of bags under the force or" said feeler member at all timesand thus prevent said feeler member from rocking about its axis at alltimes except when one of said holes comes into registry therewith.

19. A bag dispensing mechanism according to claim 14, further comprisingbearing means rotatably supporting one of said feed rollers along afixed axis, said'drive means being connected to said one feed roller,independent journal means rotatably supporting the other of said feedrollers and mounted for displacement transversely to the axis of saidother feed roller, means acting on said journal means, respectively, soas to maintain said other feed roller in rolling surface contact withsaid one feed roller and gear means drivingly connecting said one feedroller to said other feed roller.

20. A bag dispensing mechanism according to claim 14, further comprisinga pair of spaced arms mounted independently of one another for rockingmovement in respective planes transsecting the axes of rotation of saidfeed rollers, bearing means rotatably supporting one of said feedrollers along a fixed axis, said armsextending from the mounting pointsthereof toward the location of said feed rollers, the other of said feedrollers being rotatably journaled in and supported by said arms, saiddrive means being operatively connected to said one feed roller, gearmeans drivingly connecting said one feed roller to said other feedroller, and means acting on said arms, respectively, so as to maintainsaid other feed roller in rolling surface contact with said one feedroller.

21. A bag dispensing mechanism according to claim 14, further comprisinga stationary cross bar extending parallel to said feed rollers anddisposed behind the same as viewed in a direction opposite to thedirection of feeding of said string of bags through said rollers, saidfeed rollers being arranged in substantially vertically superposedrelation, bearing means rotatably supporting the lower one of said feedrollers along a fixed axis, said drive means being connected to saidlower feed roller, a

pair of spaced, parallel arms independently rotatably' mounted at oneend thereof on said cross bar and extending from the latter toward thelocation of said feed rollers, the upper one of said feed rollers beingrotatably journalled at its opposite ends in the other ends of saidarms, gear means drivingly connecting said lower feed roller to saidupper feed roller, and adjustment means engageable with said arms,respectively, for securing the same in any adjusted positions thereof,whereby'a true parallelization of the axis of said upper feed rollerwith the axis of said lower feed roller and full surface contacttherebetween over their entire lengths may be effected while separationof said rollers during a bag feeding operation is inhi -ited.

22. An ice cube dispensing mechanism, comprising a storage bin adaptedto contain a supply of ice cubes and provided in its bottom with adischarge opening, a delivery chute disposed below said bin fortransferring ice cubes to the purchaser thereof, a trough having one endregion disposed beneath said bin and in direct communication with saiddischarge opening thereof, the other end region of said trough overlyingand communicating with said delivery chute, a rotary screw conveyerarranged in said trough, at least one rotary agitator shaft extendingacross said bin'and carrying within the confines of said bin a pluralityof radial fingers staggered relative to one another circumferentially ofsaid shaft' to feed ice cubesfrom said bin to said delivery chute andagitate and separate the ice cubes in said bin, and control meansoperatively connected with said drive means and operable to actuate thelatter so as to cause a quantity of ice cubes to be dispensed throughsaid delivery chute.

23. An ice cube dispensing mechanism according to claim 22, furthercomprising at least one additional rotary agitator shaft extendingacross said bin and essentially identical in construction with said oneagitator shaft, said shafts being disposed at different elevationsrelative to the bottom of said bin, and the wall of said bin definingthe front edge of said discharge opening, as viewed in the direction offeeding of said ice cubes, being provided with an 'arcuate edge recessto prevent crushing of ice cubes between said front edge and said screwconveyer during the feeding operation of the latter.

24. An article of commerce, comprising a long string of bags inflat-folded condition adapted to be dispensed one at a time from anautomatic vending machine, said bags being detach'ably connected to oneanother in end to end relationship in such a manner that that end ofeach bag which is ultimately to be the open or'top end thereof isconnected to the sealed or bottom end of the next adjacent bag of saidstring of bags, each of said bags being provided adjacent said open ortop end thereof with a transverse hole dimensioned and positioned topermit entry of a bag passage-sensing and dispensing operationcontrolling element of the vending machine, and also to serve as ahandle hole for each bag after the same is dispensed and separated fromthe next adjacent bag of said string of bags. t

25, An article of commerce, comprising a long string of fiat-folded bagsadapted to be dispensed one at a time from an automatic vending machine,said bags being detachably connected to one another in end to endrelationship in such a manner that that end of each bag which isultimately to be the open or top end thereof jacent bag of said stringof bags, each of said bags being provided adjacent said open or top endin the juxtaposed fiat wall panels thereof with a pair of substantiallycentrally located, axially aligned transverse holes, said holes in eachof said bags constituting when the respective 'bag is folded flat asingle aperture dimensioned and pois dispensed and separated from, thenext adjacent bag of said string of bags. i l

26. In an automatic ice cube vending machine equipped with ice cubefreezing means'for forming 'ice cubes and with a storage bin forreceiving formedcubes from said ice cube freezing means; the improvementcomprising first means for sensing whether the supply of ice cubes insaid storage bin is more or less than a predetermined minimum quantity,second means for sensing the complete exhaustion of ice cubes from saidbin, means responsive to said first sensing means and operable when saidsupply of ice cube drops to less than said minimum quantity to effectactuation of said freezing means for replenishing the supply of icecubes in said bin to more than said minimum quantity, and meansresponsive to said second sensing means and operable when the supply ofice cubes in said bin is exhausted, Without being replenished by saidfreezing means, to inhibit initiation of any vending cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSStearns Dec. 2, Stoeh-ler July 5, Matthews Oct. 15, Abbott Apr. 17,Piazze Aug. 21, Chaplik et a1. Mar. 17, Lowenthal Dec. 13, Eschenburg eta1. J an. 31, Howard June 6, Groves July 31,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noo 3 151668 I October 6 1964 Edwin Zimmermann It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 3 line 31 for"and" read the column 9 line 18 for "150a" read 105a column l5 line 41 vafter "roller" insert a comma; column a line 12 Elite! "thereof" insertis connected to the sealed or bottom end of the next ad- Signed andsealed this 2nd day of February 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

-INEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER sting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. AN AUTOMATIC, COIN-OPERATED ICE CUBE VENDING MACHINE, COMPRISING ACOIN-RECEIVING MECHANISM, A SUPPLY OF ICE CUBE-RECEIVING BAGS IN THEFORM OF A LONG STRING OF END TO END DETACHABLY CONNECTED BAGS, MEANS FORFEEDING SAID STRING OF BAGS FROM THE LOCATION OF SAID SUPPLY THEREOFALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH TOWARD A DISPENSING LOCATION, MEANS FORSENSING THE PASSAGE OF UNIT BAG-LENGTH PORTIONS OF SAID STRING OF BAGSPAST A PREDETERMINED POINT OF SAID PATH, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THEOPERATION OF SAID SENSING MEANS FOR INTERRUPTING THE OPERATION OF SAIDFEEDING MEANS WHENEVER A SINGLE BAG HAS BEEN FED TO SAID DISPENSINGLOCATION, WHEREBY SAID BAGS ARE DISPENSED ONE AT A TIME, MEANS FORFREEZING WATER INTO A SUPPLY OF ICE CUBES, MEANS FOR DISPENSING ICECUBES FROM THE SUPPLY THEREOF INTO A DISPENSED ICE CUBERECEIVING BAGHELD IN OPEN CONDITION, AND CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITHSAID COIN-RECEIVING MECHANISM, SAID FEEDING MEANS, SAID RESPONSIVEMEANS, SAID FREEZING MEANS, AND SAID ICE CUBE DISPENSING MEANS FORENSURING PROPER OPERATION THEREOF DURING EACH VENDING CYCLE AFTER THEINITIATION OF THE CYCLE BY THE INTRODUCTION OF SUFFICIENT COINS INTOSAID COIN-RECEIVING MECHANISM.